Maldonado launches drive to repeal inmate shift

Former Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado announced he would lead a campaign to ask voters to repeal the prison realignment plan passed by the Legislature.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Potential GOP candidate for governor Abel Maldonado is leading a campaign to ask voters to repeal a law that has shifted responsibility for tens of thousands of criminals from state prisons to county jails.

Maldonado, a former California senator and lieutenant governor, announced Wednesday that he has formed an initiative committee to start collecting signatures to put the measure on next year's ballot.

Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, pushed for the criminal justice realignment under a federal court order to reduce prison crowding. The corrections department responded to Maldonado's criticism, saying counties can rehabilitate many lower-level offenders more efficiently.

Maldonado is considering a run for governor next year against Brown, but he denied the ballot drive is related.